Page 31 of Playing the Backbeat

Kai and Emi rejoin us, and she hops back into her seat, happily stuffing a slice of bacon in her mouth, not a care in the world.

Yeah. Emi is absolutely winning this round.

“I guess you’re the one I should talk to about where to start with all this?” Kai asks, taking the coffee Dylan hands him. A valiant attempt at a peace offering, I’ll admit.

“I’ll hook you guys up. No problem,” Dylan says. “I’ll give you the name of the music shop where I teach lessons.”

My phone starts ringing on the counter.

“Great Nana is calling,” Emi screeches, swiping to answer the video call. “Hi, Great Nana,” she says, using the nickname all of my grandmother’s great-grandkids use, before taking another chomp of bacon.

“I was expecting to see my granddaughter, and here I am, blinded by a gem instead,” I hear Nana exclaiming from the other end of the call.

“Maybe you could put on some sunglasses.” Emi shrugs. “I can’t help how I shine.” She starts chugging her glass of orange juice. Why do kids always eat like the food is going to run away?

“I swear, we ate so much food last night. Why is she acting like this?” I mumble to Morgan.

“Growth spurt,” Kai chimes in. “One right after another. From birth…till now. We’ll let you know when that lets up.”

“I take it you’re with your aunt Dee Dee. Show me this new roommate man friend of hers.”

Man friend,Dylan mouths at me, eyebrows raised.

Go with it,I mouth back.

Emi holds out her phone, and Dylan gently accepts, like it’s going to bite him if he’s not careful. It’s only partially true.

“I’m Nana. And you are…” Nana waits expectantly.

Dylan clears his throat. “Uh, Dylan. Dylan Brooks, ma’am.”

“Oh, he’s polite. Deanna, be nice to this one. I have a feeling he’s going to be scared of you if he isn’t already. Too much fire in our genes. I’m afraid she got that from me.”

“Yes. I mean, no. I mean, Dee doesn’t scare me,” Dylan says, a small laugh escaping him.

“Yes, I do,” I call out across the room, before I steal the phone from Dylan, standing next to him so she can see both of us.

I can see about one inch of Nana’s forehead and her silver hair, fluffed and looking perfect as usual.

“I get to see you in two weeks. Any last requests for a birthday present?” I ask.

“Stop it,” she replies. “Youare my present. Now get in that car and make the trip early if you really want to give me something special.”

“Wish I could, but I’m booked. Gotta make some money, cause some chaos, be a menace to society. You know, the usual.”

“I know, dear. You make me so proud. Bring that Dylan with you, all right? He needs to meet the family.”

The ground shifts beneath me. “Oh, I don’t know about that. I don’t think—” I start to say, before Dylan smirks and cuts me off.

“I’d love to be there. See you soon,” Dylan says, pulling me tightly to his side, his fingers firmly set around my shoulder.

I wish I could say I’m irritated. Obnoxiously annoyed at his immediate acceptance of her invite. But let’s just say I’m temporarily distracted because…why does he smell so good?

Kai steals the phone from me, and he and Morgan chat with Nana for the next few minutes before Emi runs away with it to show off Dylan’s drum set.

Maybe this will be good. If Dylan comes to the party, it’ll take the heat off me and my job hunt while my family all fusses over meeting him—my roommate, sugar daddy, and technically my boss? I don’t know. I might just stick withmy roommatefor introductions.

To be determined.